Warning-SNACK BAR Across from Vatican Museum
#1
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Warning-SNACK BAR Across from Vatican Museum
Right across from the entrance and exit to the Vatican Museum is a small restaurant with a large sign that says "Snack Bar". It is easy to get roped into this place because you're hot and tired from the Museum and are looking for the first place to sit and have a cold drink. And also the owners wave you in from across the street. (Yes, I feel foolish about being roped in.) A quick look at the menu suggests that prices are about right.
Anyway, we and our kids had three off-brand colas, two small beers, one order of french fries and a single serving pizza. (Microwaved frozen.) Our bill was 175,000 lire, about $100. It should have been about $25. The other $75 was what they called "table charges" and "service".
We raised a fuss and they immediately tried to quietly drop the price to 100,000 which my husband threw on the table. Then I went to the proprietor, the waiter and the owner's wife, and loudly read each the riot act.
Anyway, we and our kids had three off-brand colas, two small beers, one order of french fries and a single serving pizza. (Microwaved frozen.) Our bill was 175,000 lire, about $100. It should have been about $25. The other $75 was what they called "table charges" and "service".
We raised a fuss and they immediately tried to quietly drop the price to 100,000 which my husband threw on the table. Then I went to the proprietor, the waiter and the owner's wife, and loudly read each the riot act.
#3
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They refused to let me see the menu when we challenged the bill. But I would imagine that you'd have to be fluent in Italian, (and a lawyer!) to make sure that there was no disclaimer on the menu. You can't always protect yourself, but you can always argue the bill! By the way, Italy is a wonderful place.
#4
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This kind of thing makes me sick. It's just as bad as the guy who tries to pick your pocket on the cross-town bus. And this is an established business!
It seems to me that the only defense against this sort of thing is information, and I thank you, Joanne, for letting us all know about it.
It seems to me that the only defense against this sort of thing is information, and I thank you, Joanne, for letting us all know about it.
#5
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I agree it's a rip off! My friend and I paid less than that for a sumptuous 3 course meal (with wine and a gin & tonic) at lovely restaurants with a view, such as one (whose name escapes me) overlooking Assisi cathedral. The Italian Tourist Board should be made aware of your complaint Joanne.
#6
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I just saw this old posting and would not usually revive one so old but I was amazed that I had never seen it before. I cannot be sure but I wonder if this is the same place I complained about some time back. My place was across the street from the exit.We were overcharged but I did not know it until we had left the place. I asked my husband why he had not left a tip and he said because we had been vastly overcharged. I wanted to go back & protest but he is a peaceful man....he's not the one who is Italian!
#7
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I too was "taken" by that snack bar about 25 years ago. Evidently they are still at it. Everywhere I went in Italy the locals saw $$$ signs when they saw tourists. Italy was one big rip-off 99% of the time. I have never returned to that country but visit countries where the natives don't rip of tourists. Maybe if enough people boycott a country they will get the picture. Because after 25 years they are still up to their old tricks.
#8
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Unfortunately I too have been ripped of by this 'snack bar'
I was there last summer and the same thing happened to me (I only had coffee and a pastery and they charged me 50,000)
Needless to say I refused to pay that and gave them 25,000 (still too much...)
I'm glad that there is a travel board like this one so people can be made aware of things like this. You can bet at least a couple dozen visitors to the vatican won't fall into that trap because of this thread.
I was there last summer and the same thing happened to me (I only had coffee and a pastery and they charged me 50,000)
Needless to say I refused to pay that and gave them 25,000 (still too much...)
I'm glad that there is a travel board like this one so people can be made aware of things like this. You can bet at least a couple dozen visitors to the vatican won't fall into that trap because of this thread.
#11
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As I recall, directly accross from the Vatican, in the same area as this "rip off" snack bar, I found a GREAT place which served slices of pizza and soda, on a side street. The pizza was excellent and I don't think I spent more than about $5 dollars and left full. Also, service and servers were GREAT too!!!
It pays to shop around!!
It pays to shop around!!
#14
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Best to stay away from the Vaitican and the Catholic Church. Getting ripped off for some ice cream is nothing comparded to letting a priest have his way with your child. Do you know if your priest has a molestation background? Did you check? Blind faith is ignorance - and dangerous.
#15
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This happens all over Italy, we were in Venice last year and an Ice Cream vendor tried to rip me off , I purchased 7 cones and he told me the cost is 40,000, I asked him to repeat the total and he did. I told him the sign say 2,000 per cone, how did he come up with that amount, the cost is only 14,000. I started to making a scene, even though he repeated the total to me infront of witnesses he insisted I misheard and he did say 14,000.
#18
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I don't think what they are talking about is "inflated." It is simply a rip off. While I didn't experience this while in Italy, I have read in travel guides that short changing is common. Italy is not the only place where this type of thing happens though.
#20
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I wonder if this is the same snack bar I was in last week. We just went in for a few drinks, but the waiters and hostess were encouraging us to take a seat. We just got our drinks from the self service section and went to the counter. It was 10 euros for 3 sodas. We said no thank you and walked out. A few blocks down (near the subway station) we found a great bakery. We got bake goods, three sodas, and some sweets for about 8 euro.
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Rebecca_Ziggs
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Jan 12th, 2011 03:03 PM